Tested: Wilson Rush Pro

To quote some guy in a movie, “My momma always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they’re going, where they’ve been”. Although that guy may have been more into table-tennis than tennis-tennis, he was right. In tennis, like in so many sports, outfitting yourself appropriately is half the battle. Where footwork is key, Wilson’s Rush Pro ($120) has a hard job. We got our hands on a pair and made ’em squeak between the white lines (mostly).

In the comfort department, the Rush Pro is a court shoe with a singular aim. It’s built to put you lower to the ground with only 6mm heel-toe drop, increasing both speed and stability. Wilson will toss around phrases like, “DST Foam insole board” and “Ortholite comfort foam sockliner”, but to us, the question of comfort was handled simply. They felt great off the court, and like a perfectly fitting, quick-yet-tough pair of socks on it.

The styling of the shoe is all functional purpose. The back half has an airy, lightweight build that provides the comfort of a typical running shoe. On the bottom, its Duralast outsole boasts a 6-month guarantee, no small potatoes when we’ve blown through bottoms in older shoes like they were a butter sculpture. The front half of the Rush Pro is built like a tank — a very agile tank. A huge, high-abrasion resistant over-molded toe guard is the biggest outward indication that Wilson made this shoe strictly for the court. The beefed-up toe and drag areas will last a long time, and the fact is, confidence in the construction of these shoes actually boosts your tennis game.

We’re not saying that buying these shoes will make you a better player. No, what we’re saying is that when we laced up and started playing, we actually forgot we were wearing them. We didn’t notice them one bit.

It’s strange, but the most exceptional products you’ll find are often the ones that are the easiest to forget. Why? Because they simply work. They do what they’re supposed to do precisely when they are supposed to do it. They frantically spin the plates behind the curtains to make sure that you can perform at your highest. Serving up seamless integration in a good-looking package isn’t easy, but Wilson nails it.

The Briefing

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